Patrick Michael Bradfield was sentenced on Thursday

A man in his 30s has been jailed on two counts of sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl.

Patrick Michael Bradfield had pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child under the age of 15, and was sentenced to 15 months in prison today (Thursday, February 16).

The 31-year-old started targeting his victim at the stables where he worked, in 2014.

Over the course of the year, the Vicarage Road, Bexley resident groomed the girl, using his phone to text suggestive messages to her.

As the grooming intensified, Bradfield, who was fully aware of his victim’s age, convinced the girl he was in love with her.

In October that year, the relationship became sexual.

He continued to engage the relationship, even asking her to conspire with her friends to cover for her while she skipped school to be with him.

Bradfield was arrested once someone else at the stables became concerned about the pair’s behaviour.

He pleaded ignorance, claiming he had messaged the girl, but there was nothing sexual about their interactions.

But sexually motivated messages shown on his phone revealed the paedophile’s lies.

“Bradfield used his position to develop a relationship with an impressionable, vulnerable child and pursue her with the intent of a predatory sex offender,” said Det const Lee Ellis, of the Met’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command led the investigation.

She added: “It was only on the first day of his trial that Bradfield finally accepted responsibility for his actions, having denied the facts from the point of his arrest.

“I would like to praise the strength of the victim and her family who have supported this investigation throughout - I can only hope they can now move forward as a result of Bradfield’s conviction.

“Bradfield is a serious risk to young females and it cannot be discounted that he may have abused other young girls. Anyone who believes they have been a victim of Bradfield’s is urged to contact police.”

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